POST OFFICE IN PARADISE - Auxiliary: Plantation or Ranch Marks

This page last updated: 31 August 2005

::: Private Sender Marks - Plantation or Ranch Marks :::

This strike of a AUXPRIAG-Hoaeae used at Hoaeae on Oahu is seen on a postal card from Waipahu, Oahu dated in June, 1897. (Courtesy of Corinphila Auctions)

Plantation and ranch marks are particularly interesting. Several of these marks were used as cancels, as in the example of Hoaeae, above. A few of these marks listed by Davey are unconfirmed. In addition to the marks illustrated here, other examples are illustrated in the catalogue for the Champion Sale (Shreves Philatelic Galleries, Inc., June 6, 1997).

Hamakua Mill Co., Hawaii

Hamakua Mill was located between Paauhau and Paauilo in the Hamakua District of the Big Island and was managed by J. R. Renton until 1899 when A. Lidgate became manager. It was independent of the Hamakua Plantation.

AUXPRIAG-Hamakua
3mm tall straightline
unserifed letters
purple

Davey rendering

March 3, 1898
Courtesy of Gary Peters

Davey 603

HAMAKUA MILL CO.
Usage: late 1890's
This mark may have been used as a postmark but no post office by this name was ever listed.
This mark is considered scarce.

AUXPRIAG-Hamakua(script)
_mm tall straightline
script letters

May 15, 1900
From photocopy supplied by Ed Burns

Davey UL

Hamakua Mill Co./
A. Lidgate, Manager
Usage: 1900
This mark may have been used as a postmark but no post office by this name was ever listed.
This mark is considered rare.

Hanamaulu Plantation, Kauai

Hanamaulu Plantation was located at Lihue, Kauai. It was owned and operated by Albert S. Wilcox.

AUXPRIAG-Hanamaulu
51mm long straightline
italic letters
purple

September 9, 1899

Davey UL

Hanamaulu Plantation
Usage: 1900
This mark is considered rare; one example is noted.

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co., Maui

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. was located at Kahului, Maui. It had company stores for general merchandise at Kahului and Spreckelsville. It was a major force in Maui plantations. H. Center was the manager at the time this mark was used.

AUXPRIAG-HC&S
37 mm double lined outer and single lined inner circles
serifed letters except MAUI; Maltese cross at bottom; stars on both sides of MAUI; single lined arcs above and below central words
purple

June 4, 1894

Davey unlisted

HAWAIIAN COMMERCIAL & SUGAR CO./
KAHULUI/
MAUI
Usage: 1894
Noted as a backstamp.

Hawaiian Sugar Co., Kauai

Hawaiian Sugar Co. was an Alexander & Baldwin plantation located at Makaweli, Kauia.

AUXPRIAG-HawaiianSugar
9mm x 9mm monogram
serifed letters
purple

January 9, 1892
Courtesy of Placido Valenciano

Davey unlisted

H with small s in the cross-bar
Usage: 1892
Noted as a backstamp.

Hitchcock & Co., Hawaii

Hitchcock's Plantation was located at Papaikou under the management of E. G. Hitchcock. Planting began in 1875

AUXPRIAG-Hitchcock(plantation)
40mm x 24mm double lined oval
unserifed letters
purple

October 29, 1880

Davey unlisted

HITCHCOCK & CO./
Plantation/
date/
PAPAIKOU, H. I.
Usage: 1880
Noted as a backstamp.

AUXPRIAG-Hitchcock(hilo)
51mm x 31mm double lined oval
serifed letters
purple

March 27, 1884

Davey unlisted

HITCHCOCK & CO./
date/
PAPAIKOU, HILO
Usage: 1884
Noted as a backstamp.

Hoaeae, Oahu

This name is given to a land section in the vicinity of Ewa, above Pearl Lagoon near where Waipahu was situated. It is shown on an 1881 government map. This land became part of the Oahu Sugar Co. when it was formed in 1897.

AUXPRIAG-Hoaeae
30.5mm x 11mm straightline
unserifed letters
purple

Davey 604

HOAEAE
Usage: late 1890's
This mark is noted as a cancel on a postal card originating at Waipahu in June, 1897. The Waipahu postmark use began in July, 1897 so it is possible this mark was a postmark. No post office by this name was ever listed.

Honolulu Plantation Co., Oahu

Located at Halawa, Oahu, the name Honolulu Plantation Co. was used, starting in 1900, for the former Honolulu Sugar Co., commenced in 1898. Jas. A. Low was manager.

AUXPRIAG-HonoluluPlantation
46mm x 2mm straightline
unserifed letters
purple

April 21, 1900

Davey unlisted

HONOLULU PLANTATION CO.
Usage: 1900

Huelo Plantation, Maui

Huelo Plantation at Huelo, Maui was managed by William Turner. Planting began around 1878.

AUXPRIAG-Huelo
double lined oval or lozenge
serifed letters; cross side ornaments
purple

Davey rendering
Mark is unconfirmed

Davey 605

HUELO/
PLANTATION
Usage: no date is given
Noted by Davey but I have not seen it.

Kekaha Sugar Company, Kauai

Kekaha Plantation, located in Kekaha, Kauai, started about 1880. It was managed by Vladimir Knudsen. It had about 110 acres under cultivation.

AUXPRIAG-KekahaSugar
36mm x 15mm unbordered arc above, two straight lines below
serifed letters except KEKAHA
purple

September 10, 1892

Davey unlisted

KEKAHA SUGAR C^O/
KEKAHA/
KAUAI, H. J.
Usage: 1892

AUXPRIAG-KekahaSugar(oval)
43mm x 24mm single lined outer and inner ovals
serifed letters
purple

November 17, 1893
Courtesy of Antone Medeiros

Davey unlisted

KEKAHA SUGAR CO./
star side ornaments/date/
KAUAI, H. I.
Usage: 1893

AUXPRIAG-KekahaSugar
52mm x 27mm
unserifed letters
purple

January 2, 1899
Courtesy of Phil Kay

Davey unlisted

KEKAHA SUGAR COMPANY, Ltd./
date/
KAUAI, H. I.
Leaf side ornaments
Usage: 1899
Noted as a backstamp.

Koloa Sugar Company, Kauai

Koloa Sugar Company was the oldest commercial sugar plantation in Hawaii. Sugar planting began there in 1835. A good book on this plantation is Koloa Plantation by Arthur C. Alexander.

AUXPRIAG-Koloa(straightline)
15mm x 4mm straight line
serifed letters
red

Mark is unconfirmed

Davey 606

KOLOA
Usage:

AUXPRIAG-Koloa(arch)
33mm x 23mm unbordered design with arch above, two straight lines below
serifed letters; fancy line inside arch
purple

May 25, 1894

Davey unlisted

KOLOA SUGAR CO,/
KOLOA KAUAI,
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Usage: 1894
Noted as a backstamp on mail to Germany. This mark seems rare.

AUXPRIAG-Koloa(straightline)
51mm x 4mm
unserifed letters
purple

(color altered for clarity)

February 20, 1897
Courtesy of Placido Valenciano

Davey UL

Koloa Sugar Co.
Usage: 1897
Noted as a backstamp, used with the word MANAGER below a space for a signature

Kukaiau Mill Company, Hawaii

Kukaiau Mill was located in Hamakua, Hawaii. G. F. Renton was in charge of the mill. It was independent of Kukaiau Plantation.

AUXPRIAG-Kukaiau
53mm x 4mm straight line
serifed letters
purple

color manipulated for contrast

Davey 607

KUKAIAU MILL CO.
Usage: late 1890's
This mark could have been used as a postmark but no post office by this name was ever listed.

Lahaina Sugar Company, Maui

Numerous references can be found to the Pioneer Mill Co. at Lahaina, but nothing has turned up for Lahaina Sugar Co. Help in filling in a little information would be appreciated.

AUXPRIAG-LahainaSugar
single lined circle
serifed letters

Davey rendering
Mark is unconfirmed

Davey 608

LAHAINA SUGAR CO.
Usage: no date is given
Noted by Davey but I have not seen it.

Lihue Plantation, Kauai

Lihue Plantation, at Lihue, Kauai, was a 20,000 acre plantation near Lihue, Kauai. Carl Isenberg was manager for many years. It was managed by C. Wolters when this mark was used.

AUXPRIAG-LihuePlantation
44mm x 3mm straight line
serifed letters, italicized
purple

April 5, 1898

Davey unlisted

Lihue Plantation Co.
Usage: 1898

Mana Ranch, Hawaii

Contrary to "old boy" conventional wisdom, this mark designates Mana Ranch on the Big Island rather than Mana on Kauai. Mana Ranch was the name for the home ranch of the famed Parker Ranch on the Big Island.

AUXPRIAG-ManaRanch
33mm single lined outer and inner circles
serifed letters; cross side ornaments
purple

January 28, 1884
(Courtesy of Albert Chang)

Davey 611

MANA/
date/
RANCH
Usage: January 28, 1884-September 24, 1884
Noted as a backstamp. I note only two strikes of this mark.
Whether this mark was used at Mana on Kauai or at the Parker home ranch on Hawaii has been debated. The argument favoring Hawaii is correct as proven by a cover bearing both the Sam'l Parker embossed mark and the Mana Ranch mark. Parker owned the Mana Stock Ranch on the Big Island.

January 28, 1884

Reciprocity Plantation, Maui

Reciprocity Plantation was named to recognize the 1875 Treaty eliminating U.S. tariffs on Hawaiian grown sugar, thus enabling expansion of the Hawaiian sugar industry. Reciprocity Plantation was located in Hana, Maui.

AUXPRIAG-Reciprocity
25mm x ?mm double lined oval
unserifed letters above, serifed below
purple

Courtesy of Eric A. Glohr

Davey UL

Reciprocity Sugar/
Hana, Maui
Usage: 1883
Partial strike noted on Scott No. 38. One strike recorded.

Waianae Sugar Plantation, Oahu

Waianae Sugar Plantation and mill, located at Waianae, Oahu, was managed by August Aherns. It had about 250 acres under cultivation.

AUXPRIAG-WaianaeSugar
single lined oval
unserifed letters
blue

Davey rendering

June 18, 1879
From the Aall Collection

December 24, 1882

Davey 613

WAIANAE SUGAR CO.
Usage: June 18, 1879-December 24, 1882
I am unable to obtain a good measurement. This mark seems rare. Davey's rendering shows serifed letters, but every strike I have seen has unserifed letters.

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